We just received the message below from Operation Pitch Invasion:

We like to tell people that being part of the Timbers Army is about more than appreciating a team and a good time. When the Timbers Army sings about Portland for 90 minutes, it’s expressing a sense of civic pride unparalleled in North American sports. And that love of town -- that nexus of Team/Town/TA -- is more than just a match-day affair.

One of the chief manifestations of the Timbers Army’s love of the city is Operation Pitch Invasion, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building, restoring and maintaining soccer fields throughout the Portland area. OPI’s Summer 2012 Campaign is beginning soon, and Timbers Army volunteers are needed to make it a success.

It could not be simpler. OPI has arranged for three days of work on the soccer fields at selected Portland parks -- filling potholes, reseeding goal mouths, fixing sprinkler heads and goal posts, and a few other landscaping-type duties -- and another day in which less physically demanding work has been arranged.

Two of the park renovations coincide with Timbers away matches, making them a perfect way to connect with fellow supporters with whom to watch the match on TV; the third park renovation project falls on the day of a home match but will end with plenty of time to get down to Jeld-Wen Field, and will include the participation of visiting supporters from Vancouver.

For those who can’t do the strenuous work involved in these field days, a fourth morning will be dedicated to visiting a Portland Parks storage facility and painting and repairing goal posts that will then be placed in parks around the city.

The dates for these activities are:

June 30 -- field work at Bloomington Park (SE 100th Ave. & Steele St.)

August 5 -- goal repair/painting (location TBA)

August 25 -- field work (location TBA)

September 22 -- field work (location TBA)

Field maintenance isn’t the only thing OPI has been working on. For almost a year, we’ve been in negotiations to install a brand-new turf field on an empty lot at New Columbia, the housing community in North Portland. It’s a huge project, requiring the cooperation of several public agencies, significant fundraising from public and private parties, and some volunteer effort (a little ways down the line, though). When the field is built, a program of soccer education and a league of local youth players will be created using the volunteer efforts of 107ist and the Timbers Army. Count on more big news about this project later this year.

OPI is also in advanced conversations with a group that is building a greenspace out of a landfill in the Portland area. Our hope is to install at least one fubolito-sized grass field and a full-sized field in the development in 2013.

So how can you help? Easy: volunteer for one of the parks-improvement projects listed above. Right now we’re staffing up for June 30. Work will begin at about 8:30 am (breakfasty drinks and bites will be provided). You need only bring work gloves and be dressed for getting dirty and doing some moderately heavy work (no flipflops, that sort of thing). The whole shebang should be done by 1 pm, plenty of time to get home, shower, and catch the Timbers match at Colorado from your favorite pub or easy chair. You can find out all the details and add your name to the list here. (Space in each project is limited, so don’t dally!)

Look: you sing for 90 minutes about how much you love your city and your team and your game, about how you want to be buried in green and gold, about your pride in your team, your town and your fellow supporters.

This is your chance to do something truly tangible to back up those heartfelt boasts.

So do something more for your town than just jump and clap and sing: Enlist in Operation Pitch Invasion and get dirty with your Timbers Army family.

The talk going into Sunday afternoon was about opportunity for the Timbers. If Portland could steal a win at the Home Depot Center they would stand three points out of playoff position with at least a game in hand on everybody above them.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

For a half it looked like the Timbers had used the break to turn a corner.  Portland nearly got off to a disastrous start, however, as in the fourth minute Sean Franklin found Marcelo Sarvas at the mouth of goal, but Troy Perkins deflected his header just over the bar.

Even if the start was shaky, much of the rest of the half was solid.[1] In the seventh minute Kalif Alhassan found Danny Mwanga in the box who flicked onto Kris Boyd. Josh Saunders saved Boyd’s goal-bound effort, however, in the face of some confusion between the referee and linesman over whether Boyd was onside.[2]

Four minutes later Alhassan earned himself a yard of space at the top of the box with a series of stepovers before sneaking a shot that flew just high and wide.

On the other end – in a back and forth opening twenty minutes – former Timber Bryan Jordan sent a cross form the right wing that found Landon Donovan twenty five yards out. Donovan rocketed a ball past Perkins only to be denied by the far post.

From there, however, the Timbers midfield asserted itself. With every Galaxy turnover in the middle, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe or Alhassan found acres of space going forward.

In the 17^th minute Jack Jewsbury earned some space of his own and sent a cross from the right side to the far post, where a misdirected Franck Songo’o header again thwarted a promising attack.

Despite some promising buildup and some shots on frame, however, Portland couldn’t find the net. 25 minutes in, with the Timbers on the break again, Boyd hit a cracker from thirty yards that forced Saunders to dive to save it in the bottom left corner.

As effective as the Timbers’ offense was in the first half in creating chances, they were equally impotent in the second. The Galaxy midfield – which had struggled to two passes together throughout the first half – become dominant. In the 56^th minute, Landon Donovan ran past several Timbers defenders and unleashed a shot at the top of the box that missed just high and wide

The Timbers luck would run out in the 61^st minute, as Todd Dunivant got his head to a David Beckham to slot the winner past a complaining Troy Perkins.

If there was much to write about from there, I would write it. But there wasn’t. Becks played a nice direct free kick that looked like it had gone in, but instead nestled on the outside of the side netting. The Timbers, in one of their poorer halves of soccer this season, created nothing, and the Galaxy were more than comfortable with their one goal lead.

With another opportunity passing Portland by, it is becoming harder and harder to see a way back into the season for the Timbers. A big Cascadia win, however, could change everything.

Match Observations

• First, a brief note about the non-call on the goal. Was Perkins obstructed? Maybe. Could the referee have called it? Yeah. Do you see a relatively modest obstruction like that called with regularity? No. The reality is Troy made a rare mental error in giving up on the play. Nobody to blame but himself.
• To be honest, I’m at a loss to explain how poor the Timbers were in the second half on Sunday, especially in light of a pretty promising first half.
• I thought the Galaxy were pretty poor themselves. The ease with which they gave up the ball in the first half was almost embarrassing. Even in the second half, if the ball wasn’t at the feet of Landon Donovan – who was very good – or David Beckham on a set piece, the Galaxy were pretty harmless. The Galaxy’s ineptitude puts the atrociousness of the Timbers’ performance in perspective.

Timbers Grades

Troy Perkins, 3.5 – As discussed above, Perkins was absolutely culpable on the goal. Otherwise Troy was very good, but the concession was as bad a goal as I can recall Perkins conceding.

Mike Chabala, 3 – Had serious trouble with Bryan Jordan on the left flank. That really about sums it up.

David Horst, 4 – Had an okay day, but what in tarnation was he doing on the concession? I’m pretty sure you don’t want your centerback eight yards out, outside of the far post, matched up against the other team’s fullback when defending a corner.

Hanyer Mosquera, 5.5 – Had a fine day until he punched a high school kid. Hope he can play on Sunday.

Jack Jewsbury, 5.5 – With Kalif floating to the center of the pitch throughout the first half, Jack did a nice job of providing width and sending some good balls into the box. Had a competent day defensively, too.

Franck Songo’o, 5 – Nice first half from Franck, as he looked like the player we thought he might be. Did well to get a head on Jack’s cross, then poorly not to get it on frame. Became anonymous in the second half before coming off.

Diego Chara, 4.5 – An unusually poor day from Diego defensively. Was effective as a distributor, but I saw him beat defensively on Sunday more than any game I can remember.

Darlington Nagbe, 3.5 – Shoot the dang ball, Darlington. Nagbe has become one of the most frustrating players on the team. So much talent that you have to keep him on the field, but he’s turned into the Dribble Monster. Not ideal from your attacking center mid.

Kalif Alhassan, 4.5 – Had a decent first half finding space. Then, like the rest of his midfield colleagues, performed a wicked disappearing act in the second half.

Danny Mwanga, 4 – Unreasonable to expect much more than Mwanga gave us on Sunday, but he looked a little lost in the offense. He gets a couple week honeymoon.

Kris Boyd, 6 – Great stuff from Boyd in the first half. His holdup play was fantastic, and had two efforts that easily could have been goal-worthy. Can’t really blame him for the poor second half, as his midfield left him on an island.

Sal Zizzo, 5 – Failed to make much of an impact. Not his fault, though, by the 65^th minute things were pretty far gone.[3]

Mike Fucito, 5 – A little surprised to see him come on for Boyd – although fitness likely explains that. As we know, he brings great energy every time out, but so far hasn’t contributed a whole lot more than that.

Eric Alexander, 5 – Like his fellow substitutes, couldn’t keep the Titanic afloat.

Preseason Prediction: Galaxy 2, Timbers 1. Eric Alexander.

Actual Result: Galaxy 1, Timbers 0.

Onward, Rose City!

From the forums, Josh Barrett has an important announcement:

Hey, Everyone!

Its time once again to grab your work gloves and join OPI to help make our City’s pitches a better place to enjoy the beautiful game. For our first event of the summer we’ll be fixing up the full sized grass pitch at Bloomington Park in Southeast Portland on Saturday, June 30. Full details below:

Where is it? Bloomington Park. SE 100th Avenue & Steele Street (link to map here)

When is it? Saturday, June 30. Work begins at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive on time as you’ll need to sign the City’s liability waiver before beginning work.

How do I participate? You MUST sign up on our Eventbrite page. Simply posting a response here or in the forum thread won't get you on the list. For this first event, we’re capping registration at 50 participants. Also, you must have previously signed up on OPI’s mailing list or be members of the 107ist. Anyone who will be meaningfully digging needs to register. Kids who won’t be working do not need to register (but feel free to bring them out).

What kind of work will we be doing? The work will be similar to what we did at Ed Benedict last summer. Work will include things like moving soil to fill the ruts and uneven spots in the pitch, leveling the surface, overseeding the soil and excavation and repair of the park’s irrigation system. PPR personnel will be on hand to supervise and direct the work. We also hope to have some lighter duties available (cleaning and painting the goals) for those who may not be able to dig.

What should I bring? All tools will be provided by the City of Portland so leave your shovels and wheelbarrows at home. You should bring work gloves and appropriate footwaear. If it is cool, wear layers! If it is sunny, bring suncreen! We’ll have some family friendly beverages and small breakfasty items on hand.

How long will it take? If you ask City personnel, our work rate is legendary. Expect 3–5 hours. We’ll be done in plenty of time to get you on your way to your favorite viewing location for Timbers at Colorado Rapids at 6:00 p.m.

Can’t make this one? No worries. We have 3 more events scheduled for this summer – be sure to add those dates to your calendar. Keep an eye on the OPI blog for more information and where/how to sign up. Questions? Drop us a line at volunteer@pitchinvasion.org.

—by Andrew Brawley

I’m trying to be the best Timbers fan I can be. Honestly, I’m giving it as much time and energy that I can afford (not to mention what I can afford out of my wallet). But I had an incident this past weekend that is forcing me to question just how devoted I am:

I didn’t start watching yesterday’s Timbers @ Galaxy match until about 35 minutes into the 1^st half.

Before you go off in the comments section below, allow me to present the facts. Then, please judge accordingly. This was an unusual weekend. I had family in town from northern California, and I see them maybe twice a year. Whenever I am with my family, we usually take a day or two off work to increase the amount of time we spend together. Despite the physical distance, we’re actually quite close.

My Mom is fully aware of my devotion to the Timbers. She watched my brother and I play soccer as kids. She’s aware that soccer is far from being the biggest sport in the US, and hopes to see its relevance rise. She regularly asks me how the latest Timbers match went, regardless of whether it was at home or away. I hope to take her to a game one day so she can experience the awesomeness of watching a Timbers match from the Timbers Army section.

She was also aware that I have not missed watching a single match (home-in-person or away-on TV) in 2012. As we spent Sunday out and about, simultaneously entertaining my nieces and Grandpa with a Fathers’ Day brunch, a trip to OMSI, and eating Cool Moon ice cream at Jamison Square (side note: try the Thai Iced Tea flavor!), I was regularly checking my watch to monitor the time it would take to get home in time for the Timbers match. If I were to say something like “hey, we should probably start making our way home so I can watch the game,” nobody would’ve raised an eyebrow.

Unfortunately, I never said that.

As the minutes ticked away on my watch that afternoon, I just couldn’t muster up the nerve to say anything. My wife was texting me, wondering if I was gonna make it home in time. She then started texting match happenings to me. I had plenty of opportunities to say something, but I never did. It wasn’t out of fear. It wasn’t out of spite. It was simply a matter of “meh…I’ll just watch the game when I get home.”

It occurred to me today that this is a high (or low) watermark of indifference for me. All sorts of questions were spinning around my head:

• Am I now just “Rose City Till I’m Wounded?” #RCTIW
• Does this move me down the season ticket renewal list?
• Do I have to trade in my old-school No Pity scarf for a new-school version?
• Did I hurt the local TV ratings?
• Do I hate the Timbers?

I won’t go into the list of recent events that have brought me to this lowly phase. Odds are good that anyone reading this is fully aware of the Timbers’ recent performance on the pitch, and we don’t need to rehash it to death in this space. While I can only speak for myself, I have a good feeling that I’m not the only one in this boat.

I think the frustrating part in all of this is that nobody seems to know what it will take for any positive momentum on the pitch. Some fans are calling for players to be traded. Some fans are calling for firings of upper management. I’m not convinced that any of these will actually help. In fact, I think most would agree that such moves would cause more harm than good. Rocking the boat for the sake of rocking the boat is never a good thing.

So let’s assume that we (and I do mean WE, as in players, coaches, front office and fans alike) are simply stuck with what we’ve got at this point, and we gotta ride this thing out as is. With this in mind, I'm forced to ask: have we taken full inventory of all assets available to us? Have we addressed the issues in a frank manner? Are we being as transparent as possible? Have we used every ounce of fuel in the tank?

Call me a Negative Nelly, but I believe the answer for all parties involved is ‘no.’ I’m not convinced players are calling each other out and holding peers responsible for sub-par performance. I’m not convinced coaches have researched every possible scenario that is available and likely to win three points for each outing. I’m not convinced the front office (particularly those at the top) has taken steps to ensure that all cylinders (from coaches and players to game-day operations) are firing at maximum power. And I’m also not convinced that fans have had a civil conversation about the Timbers at any point this season. One week we’re gonna win the league, the next week we want someone's head to be the ball.

Here's the part where I mention we’re hosting Seattle this weekend.

If there was ever a time for soul-searching on all sides, it’s now. And I don’t mean the kind where you volunteer a couple hours at the co-op or animal shelter to make yourself feel better. I mean the kind where Indiana Jones had to perform the Leap of Faith so he could reach the Holy Grail, then prove it again so he could save his dad, Bond…James Bond.

(OK, I just went to an extreme that I called everyone else out for. Totes my bad, but you all recognize the analogy, so there!)

I’m going to do my damnedest to walk into this Sunday’s game with every ounce of energy, strength and enthusiasm I can get my hands on, and I intend to leave it all at JELD-WEN Field. Admittedly, my fuel tank these days is probably a bit smaller than the fuel tank I had on March 12^th (personal physique jokes aside), but I can assure you this slightly smaller fuel tank will still be full. I can only hope and pray that all other fuel tanks in the building are also full, regardless of size. A win would obviously be nice, but even a loss wouldn’t necessarily break my spirit. I simply need to be convinced that all parties (players, coaches, front office and fans alike) brought a full tank and left with an empty one. If everyone brings 100% and it’s still not good enough, at least we can say we brought 100%.

Anything short of "everything left on the field" will likely bring comparisons to the Rapture (and don't say I didn't warn you). Like in all situations, I hope cooler heads will prevail, but I just can't see evasive actions not happening if we see one more sub-par performance on the pitch.

Now, where did I put that bottle of Liquid Schwartz? (Sorry...this was the best clip I could find.)

This is an opinion piece and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the 107ist or the TA.

Welcome to this week in Timbers Army Football Club news, where it’s time to play a ton of catchup on how the various clubs are doing in their spring campaigns. The futsal and indoor teams have moved into their next sessions, while the teams in GPSD continue play through July to finish out this term with multiple fixtures since our last update on things.  Without further ado, let’s turn the focus away from the rambling blogger and turn it towards the clubs.

We finally have the full 101^st FC schedule for the next term of futsal which runs through the end of June.  We are happy to report they have submitted a few reports from matches in late May and early June to get things caught up.  You can read more about two of their earlier match reports, an 8 to 4 win on May 10 over Urban Honking FC and a 10 to 7 loss to Tricky Pony on May 17 in a back and forth affair that saw them fall way behind but make a furious run to make things close in the end.  We also received scores for four of their other matches, but no official reports: a 4 to 2 win on May 24 over FC Harvesters, a 5 to 4 loss on May 31 versus Grant Old Boyz, an 8 to 2 win on June 7 versus Lonely Shepherd FC, and an 11 to 6 win on June 11 versus Dudes FC.  I had to read those names multiple times to make sure I had them right, but yes, indeed they are correct. Let's hope the trend continues towards a potential playoff run!

Coat? FC  has also been incredibly busy in their futsal campaign, and we have reports from four of their recent matches. Firstly, a 10 to 9 win on May 15 over Bigfoot with five goals from Reid Storm in a wild back and forth affair that saw both teams lead for long stretches, but Coat FC finally leveled late and got the winning goal just before the closing whistle.  One week later on May 22, they won their second in a row with an 8 to 3 victory over Team X that saw Storm score a double hat trick. Yes, folks, that’s six goals, but according to reports, he tried to deny he had a good match.  In their next match on May 29, the team lost out on getting their third win in a row, but they remained unbeaten with a 9 all draw against Calling Dinosaurs with Mike Kuh tallying a hat trick.  The unbeaten streak hit four as they achieved a 10 to 9 win over Brewsters Crew as Kuh scored four goals and Storm added one for good measure.  The streak stopped at four, however, as they lost 8 to 6 to Blow-Up Donkey although Kuh scored another hat trick.  We await the official match report from their first match in the current term, a 4 to 3 loss to Late Night Pie, a club that has no affiliation to a certain dessert loving, clown hating group within the Timbers Army.  Apparently, part of the appeal in futsal is the team names because these are pretty impressive.

In the land of GPSD Division 4, four TAFC clubs finally resumed their league schedules after an extended break.  Cascade Rangers FC met up with long time rivals Broken Arrow out at Sherwood’s Snyder Park on June 3 and lost 5 to 2 but got goals from Jesse Ritorto and Andy Laursen in an overall well played match.  North End United and Northern Alliance FC met in another TAFC derby match where both sides played a rather feisty but spirited affair.  In the official match report from NAFC team guru David Xochihua, the teams played to a 3 all draw that saw NAFC take a 3 to 1 halftime lead but NEU equalized with a penalty kick from Shiloh Rodriquez and the equalizer from Marcus Nelson.  Rose City Athletic faced off against MayDay on June 6, but didn’t report an official score or report although rumors are that it was a contentious affair. We'll pass along an update as soon as Rob sends one out.

Many of the Division 4 clubs had midweek fixtures at Delta Park as well, as NEU battled one of their long time nemeses, MayDay, on June 13.  Carrying only 13 players, the NEU boys fell behind 4 to 0 behind some spectacular goalkeeping from their opponent combined with questionably aggressive play.  However, they found their stride in the 80^th minute putting 3 goals in to push the score to 4 to 3 before giving up a late goal in a 5 to 3 loss.  Marcus Nelson scored twice, giving him three goals in two matches to keep up his recent stellar play. We had no official report from the other two TAFC matches: Northern Alliance FC as they battled the Fiji Islanders, and Cascade Rangers FC versus SDFC 3, however, on the Facebook TAFC site, two scores were reported: CRFC 0, SDFC 3 with 5 and Electric Dream Machine 4, RCA 2.  RCA and NAFC meet this weekend for another TAFC derby, CRFC entertains Fiji Islanders while NEU gets a break until the 23^rd.

In news from the older 40 set, Old Growth FC has shown remarkable improvement in their first season especially on the defensive side of the ball.  The club has yet to secure their first victory, but they put together two superior efforts in consecutive 4 to 1 losses at LaSalle HS, one on June 3 versus Rose City Revolution and the other on June 10 versus Random Assortment.  Brad Ashton tallied the lone goal for OGFC on June 3, while Rich Recker smashed a header into goal from a Todd Diskin corner kick on June 10 for the scores, while the defense has really found their shape after some early issues.  The team gets to venture to Sherwood on June 17 to face the team above them in the standings, Rogues, before getting another break before their final three matches.

We haven’t seen any recent updates from our friends at AC Loco Moco, FC Dynamo, or FC Portlandia, but we’ll publish those out as soon as we hear from them. ACLM has finished their most current indoor season, while FCD and FCP have completed their Division 1 outdoor seasons as well.  We hope to hear more exploits from all three clubs in the upcoming fall season, as well as adding two new clubs to Division 4 for the fall.

That’s all from the headquarters for now, but we’ll be back the first week of June with a plethora of updates from the various TAFC clubs.  Enjoy the weather, and if you get a chance to see one of the TAFC matches, we appreciate any and all Timbers Army members to come out and watch. It’s great entertainment combined with various moments of competitive soccer, and there’s no charge to come out and support your favorite TAFC side.  You might also see something truly amazing, too.

—by David Xochihua

The Northern Alliance has a busy week, beginning this Sunday afternoon. And everyone is invited to be a part of it.

First, Sunday 6/17, will be a double header for some of the membership, as Northern Alliance FC will take on fellow Timbers Army FC side Rose City Athletic at 2pm at the Delta Park Sports Complex's Strasser Field. You can follow reports of the action on NAFC's twitter account, at @NAFootballClub.

Also on Sunday, you can join the Northern Alliance for a viewing party at 107ist partner bar Dublin Down beginning at 3pm. The NAFC lads will come straight from the match for this one, as our beloved Timbers attempt to get their first win in the Home Depot Center against the reigning MLS champion LA Galaxy. Address: 813 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660

Thursday, 6/21 holds an event special for the Northern Alliance: the official Northern Alliance scarf presentation to our very own Brent Richards, taking place at the Burgerville in Orchards. Richards was a local star for Camas High School, and played soccer against some of the Northern Alliance membership before becoming the Timbers' first Homegrown Player. He will be available for photos and autographs starting at 6pm. The Northern Alliance will also be collecting change for a penny drive for nearby Orchards Elementary, benefiting the youth of Peru. Address: 10903 NE 4th Plain Road, Vancouver, WA 98662

Friday, 6/22 is the big one (before the BIG ONE on Sunday): Timbers U23s vs. Seattle Sounders U23s at Kiggins Bowl. The match starts at 7:30pm, but the Northern Alliance is hosting a pre-match gathering at The Hideaway Tavern, which is about a block and a half north of the northern entrance to the stadium, starting at 4pm. We're expecting a big turnout for this match, so if you want to pre-game, show up early, as the bar isn't much larger than the Bitter End! At the match, there will be a Northern Alliance-manned Timbers Army/107ist table as well. The Hideaway Tavern is located at 4909 NE Hazel Dell Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98663.

Saturday, 6/23, Northern Alliance FC will be facing SDFC 3 beginning at 10am at LaSalle High School in Milwaukie. Come out to root for the lads!

Also on 6/23, the Northern Alliance will be participating in the Southwest Washington Soccer Fair, which is taking place from 11am-4pm at the soccer fields just south of Hudson's Bay High School across Mill Plain, near downtown Vancouver. The Northern Alliance is hosting a Timbers Army/107ist information table. There will be giveaways, soccer exhibitions, a raffle for Timbers tickets, and music. Rumors also persist of Timbers players (and possibly Sounders players) participating.

All in all, it's a busy week for the Northern Alliance membership. We sincerely hope that our Timbers Army brethren will cross the river and join in with some of our events this week!

Don't forget, you can now follow the Northern Alliance on Twitter, at @TANorthAlliance.

Cheers!

Remember our contest for Timbers Army in Exile? Eight lucky 107IST members from outside Oregon and Washington won round trip airfare on Alaska Airlines and tickets to the Timbers-Whitecaps match on May 26th. Here are some of their stories:

From Stephen Sedler:

Alaska Airlines only flies to that stinky fish town to the north from Minneapolis, so I had to take a short detour on my way to Portland. I held my breath the whole time I was there. As my plane was taxiing to the gate in Portland, I spotted the Timbers Jet parked at the terminal. It must be a good sign, I thought. It was my first match back at PGE Pa... err... JELD-WEN Field since the Sunflower Goal. Last year I was able to make it to Colorado and Chicago away, but it was good to be back home. I ended up going to the match with family and friends. After riding the MAX in from the Sunset Transit Center, we waited at Gate 1 for an hour and a half to avoid the doubled-back Gate 3 line. I just knew that the doubling-back was not a good sign. We found a spot in section 103. When capo Rob took his place down in front, my dad pointed at him and said, "You know him, right? He's the one that gave me the evil eye one time." Keep up the good work Rob. He now just randomly chants at home with the reason of, "I've got to get ready for the game!" Then there was the goal. Euphoria. The crowd response was like nothing I've experienced before. TV doesn't do it justice. Then there was the equalizer. RCTID.

After the match was over and the players had left the pitch, it was time to head to Little Big Burger for some hometown eats. Sunday involved another trip to Little Big Burger followed by the reserve match. The reserve match was another enjoyable experience. The atmosphere was like a cool-down jog after a marathon. The result was unpleasant, but that is nothing new. The flight back to Minneapolis the next day again had a stop up north. Everyone there was as anxious to leave as I was.

Attached are a couple of pictures from pregame. Friends and family are all the ones looking at the camera. I'm in the black hat wearing the "Your Magic is Real" scarf.

Thanks again!

Stephen Sedler

-----------------------------

From Drew Olsen:

Thanks again for the chance. I had so much fun.

I got in from DC on the Wednesday before the Vancouver game, and through some luck got tickets to the Valencia game. Attached is a picture from that game of me and my mom. It was her first game since 2002 (in fact, I just went back and found the game recap - she and my dad, who has since passed away, are clearly visible sitting in the beer garden in the bottom left photo of Gavin. Insane.).

That was also the first Timbers game I ever went to. I don't remember much about the game (though according to the recap, it looks like it was a great one) but I do remember sitting for the first half at midfield before joining the Army in 107 because they were clearly having so much fun. I was instantly hooked.

I really wish I had taken more photos, but some the highlights, in chronological order, are below;

- While on layover in Seattle, giving evil stares to people in their fluorescent Flounders jerseys.

- Meeting some of the Southsiders at a bar the night before the match.

- Meeting a Timbers supporter from Ft. Lauderdale who had flown West for the game.

- Buying scarves and schwag for my friends back east who haven't ever been to Jeld Wen Field but are still Timbers Army faithful and members of the TA East Coast Platoon.

- Drinking something other than Budweiser and Sam Adams.

- Realizing that even after a year or so since my last game at JWF, I still remember most of the chants.

- "Goals, all I really want is goals" (Because girls are overrated).

- Running into folks who I had met at the games in New York last season and in New England this year.

- Standing and singing with my old brethren in 108.

- Starting a chant of "Suzuki, wo-oah, Suzuki, Wo-oah, he swam here from Japan..."

- Kris Boyd's goal in front of the Army.

- Having no voice left after the match.

- Pints at the Bitter End.

Best,

Drew

-----------------------------

From Cesar Díaz:

New York, NY – I want to thank the Timbers Army and Alaska Airlines for giving me the best American Soccer fan experience of my life. I’ve attended enough MLS, NASL, USL Pro matches and international friendlies here in New York City and throughout the United States to make this assessment.

Because of you, I was able to purchase my No Pity scarf from the No Pity Van. I was able to watch a match at JELD-WEN Stadium where I met Timber Jim, a soccer legend who I have nothing but respect for. It was also great running into Timber Joey who I met last at Red Bull Arena. On top of that I was also able to chant, cheer and moan while appreciating the Timbers Cascadia Cup match against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Because of you, I had the privilege of meeting Timber Army members such as Sheba (for her hug when she presented me my Match ticket), Brent Diskin (who designed the NYC Loggers posters), Hermes (who gave me a copy of Shed Culture), Matthew Talley (who gave me a Cascadia Flag patch) and many more at the Bitter End and throughout Portland. Their generosity and good-natured personalities is what truly embodies the Timbers Army.

It was also great to meet fellow Timbers Army members who also attended Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff, AZ. Great conversation talking about another town I love.

Because of you, I was given a polo shirt by the Football Factory at Legends, the NYC sports bar who has regularly played Timbers matches. Speaking of NYC, the best non-Timbers highlight of my trip was going to Powell’s Books and purchasing a book on NYC fictional detective Shaft. NYC has the Stand but Powell’s Books puts it to shame. Best bookstore I’ve ever been to.

Now that I’m back in NYC, I have to admit that I miss Portland. Not only because of the Timbers but because Portland is my kind of town. It’s the kind of town rich with diversity and art that I could see myself living. Plus, I would have loved to have had more time to hit the trails.

As I wait for the Timbers to resume MLS action, I’ve been singing Green is the Color often. I’ve caught myself chanting some of the Timbers chants at work. In addition, I’ve been talking with other soccer fans about my Portland experience.

While I look forward to the Timbers match against the Galaxy, I’m salivating as I wait to wear my third kit against the Sounders in Cascadia Cup action. One thing that NYC and Portland supporters have in common is their hatred for Seattle.

In closing, you have an amazing town. I definitely intend to visit more often. Thank you again Timbers Army! We in the East Coast Platoon are looking forward to your August visit when our beloved Timbers face the Beast of the East, the New York Red Bulls. We’ll continue to spread the message and support from the East Coast.

RCTID from NYC!

Cesar Diaz

https://twitter.com/NYLoggers

Thanks to the hard work of people at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington, thirty children in Gramothe, Haiti got the opportunity to participate in a soccer camp last month. The church works with Mountaintop Ministries, and efforts to help in the region include regular visits by medical teams, donations of personal and medical supplies, and education and soccer for children. The 107IST was fortunate to be able to offer support to the camp in the form of 50 soccer balls, 30 pairs of socks, and cones for soccer drills.

Haley Case, a sixteen-year-old who led the soccer camp, shared this with us:

"From May 3rd to May 5th we ran a soccer camp for thirty Haitian kids at Mt Top Ministries, in the village of Gramothe near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. We provided brand new soccer balls for the camp as well as cones, pennies, and socks and shoes for each camper. In running drills and playing soccer with the kids we ran into difficulties due to the language barrier, crumbling soccer court, and the proximity of the soccer court to a cliff. Despite these obstacles we managed to create a cross-cultural connection through our shared love of soccer. Thanks to the support of our community and the Timbers Army we were able to provide supplies and create a unique experience for these Haitian kids to play soccer." 

Haley Case, age 16

Congratulations to the Vancouver Trinity Lutheran youth who participated in this effort. Because our vision as supporters includes both volunteerism and charitable donations, we are also grateful for our 107IST members, whose membership dollars make possible our financial support for community outreach and youth football support, both here at home and around the world. Thank you, members!

All photos courtesy of Addison Lufkin Collier, age 16

The membership of the Northern Alliance has grown over the past year, and as we come upon the first anniversary (or perhaps we're already past it) of the inaugural Northern Alliance event, attended by a whole 8 people, membership currently (as of this writing) stands at 355, and growing by the week.

As the group has grown, the Northern Alliance has seen a desire for more than only rooting the Timbers on to victory: Northern Alliance FC was formed and is now playing under the Timbers Army FC banner. An end of the year celebration for the group brought in donations of both money and food for needy people in Clark County. Currently there is a penny drive and soccer ball drive to augment efforts put forth by the students at Orchards Elementary for needy kids in Peru.

On the heels of all this, comes the formation of a new wing of the Northern Alliance: the Northern Alliance Charity Chapter. Spearheaded by Michelle Germaine Frye, this branch of the group will take part in volunteer efforts for charity causes. Along with the co-op with Orchards Elementary, there is a Youth Soccer Fair at Pearson Field on June 23rd and an upcoming blood drive being held at Clark County Indoor Sports on July 27th which the NACC will be heavily involved in.

If you are a resident of SW Washington or live north of the border (or live anywhere, really. We will welcome anyone!), and wish to help out, join the group. You will be most welcome.

Portland, OR.—May 23, 2012 —The 107 Independent Supporters Trust (107ist) is pleased to announce they have committed to raise an additional $40,000 by August of 2012 to add to the $25,000 already contributed in 2011. The 107ist is firmly committed to insuring the Harper’s Playground project remains a community driven effort to provide a playground at Arbor Lodge Park where children and adults of all abilities can play together. This pledge affirms the 107ist’s vow to see this inspiring project through from start to finish.

“The excitement and passion of the Timbers Army and 107ist to complete this project is palpable,” said Scott Van Swearingen, President of the 107ist. “We have been inspired by Harper’s story and while this isn’t a soccer related charity it is an important project for our community and meets our goal of spreading the love for our team and our town.”

“Harper's Playground recognizes that people with disabilities are excluded from Portland's many inaccessible parks. Our first goal is to build Portland’s first inclusive playground at Arbor Lodge Park,” said Harper’s Playground Grants Director and 107ist member Felicia Chapman. “The larger vision for Harper's Playground as we continue to grow and build our community: a more inclusive world, one playground at a time.”

Important Dates:

• June 8, 2012: Breaking Ground with The School of Rock & Friends. From 7:00-10:00 PM the Fez Ballroom will be hosting a groundbreaking celebration. Cost of entry is $10 and features the amazing talents from The School of Rock & Friends.
• June 8, 2012: Harper’s Playground Groundbreaking. From 10:00AM – 10:30AM at Arbor Lodge Park Harper’s Playground and Portland Parks & Recreation will host a traditional groundbreaking ceremony. Emcee AC Dickson will preside and will introduce speakers to include Glen & Tiffany Boyd of The W. Glen Boyd Charitable Foundation; Commissioner Nick Fish, commissioner of Portland Parks & Recreation; Taylor Brooke, Co-Captain of the University of Portland Lady Pilots Soccer Team; Felicia Chapman, Board Member of Harper’s Playground & Active Member of the 107IST. Attendees will be treated to birthday cupcakes in celebration of the playground’s namesake, Harper Rose Goldberg’s 7th birthday.
• August 4, 2012: Art Takeover is a poster show organized by Factory North and the Timbers Army with all proceeds going to Harper’s Playground. Original Timber’s Army-inspired poster designs from 30 local designers/artists will be on display and sold on Saturday, August 4th, at Coava during normal business hours and during a special after-hours event featuring beer, wine, cocktails and snacks provided by many our generous sponsors. Each poster will be hand-pulled, numbered and signed by the artist.

About Harper’s Playground

Harper’s Playground was founded in 2010 with the goal to build community by providing an inclusive playground at Arbor Lodge Park where children and adults of all abilities can play together. Our vision is to make a more inclusive world one playground at a time. Named for their daughter Harper, founders April & Cody Goldberg are committed to creating more opportunities for inclusion of all kinds in all areas of our community.

About 107 Independent Supporters Trust

The 107IST is a member-based non-profit organization open to anyone (regardless of where they sit in the stadium) who loves soccer, the Timbers, Portland, and especially the combination of the three. The 107ist is the engine that powers the Timbers Army and facilitates funding tifo displays and charitable contributions from the Timbers Army.